Entry Level Delay Analyst in London

A fantastic entry level Delay Analyst vacancy exists to assist a highly respected delay expert witness on an exciting variety of domestic and international disputes. This is a rare opportunity to get your foot into the world of construction disputes, working closely alongside a Who’s Who Legal (WWL) recommended delay expert.

You will work closely with the expert witness and provide forensic analysis on numerous reports, all the time receiving training and support to develop your skills and capabilities. The client’s office is in central London and the employer is happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, which will include regular days in the office as well as some home working where appropriate.

In this Delay Analyst role, you will gain exposure to an exciting variety of disputes related work. Your primary duty will be to assist the expert witness in carrying out forensic analysis on numerous disputes at any one time. This will include domestic and international disputes typically ranging from £2m - £10m in value, and on occasions be in excess of £200m.

Types of work that you will gain exposure to supporting the expert witness on include:

• Arbitration
• Adjudication
• Mediation reports
• General claims and disputes advisory work

Responsibilities and Duties

Your primary role will be to provide support to the lead delay expert in carrying out methodical and thorough forensic analysis related to multiple disputes. Specific duties may include but are not limited to:

• Compiling as-built progress data
• Investigating causes of delay
• Developing factual chronologies of events

Whilst working with the expert, you will develop your skills and experience in a structured way with the long-term view of training you to eventually be able to carry out the lead delay expert role independently in the future.

Desired Skills and Experience

To be clear, whilst this is likely an entry level role into Delay Analysis, this is NOT an entry level role into construction. Candidates will require circa 4+ years of experience as a minimum in a relevant role such as an engineer, planner or project manager. During this time, you will have gained exposure to several complex projects, the ability to use programmes and understand disputes that arise on projects. The client particularly likes candidates from an engineering background for this role, however, will consider all suitable applicants.

Ability to gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the nature of the dispute being analysed based on a review of the claim documents / adjudication or arbitration submissions, factual witness statements and other briefing documents.

An appreciation of the common methods of delay analysis, as set out in the Society of Construction Law Delay and Disruption Protocol.

Ability to forensically investigate and analyse baseline and progress updated programmes using the industry standard programming software packages, including making appropriate logic changes to the programmes, as necessary, to analyse the nature and extent of both critical and non-critical delay.

Ability to conduct methodical, thorough and detailed investigations and analysis (using a range of contemporaneous documents) to establish facts relevant to the nature, extent and causes of delay to all stages of the construction process on a wide range of construction and engineering project types, including (but not limited to) residential & commercial buildings, stadiums, conference centres, power plants, oil & gas-related projects, roads & bridges, schools, hospitals, hotels, railways, airports, pharmaceutical & research buildings and marine related projects.

High quality of presentational skills, both written and oral. It is essential that all work generated is presented in a clear and structured manner (in the form of chronologies of events, internal file notes and spreadsheets), supported by clear cross-referencing to the relevant documents analysed. This is not only to ensure clear communication during the delay analysis process, but also to produce documents that can be used as appendices to the expert report that will stand up to scrutiny by the opposing party and Tribunal / Court.

An appreciation for the time and cost constraints under which expert witness work is carried out. This requires the candidate to manage work delegated to him/her to ensure the timely completion of tasks (to the quality expected) having regard to the overall timescale for the delay analysis dictated by instructing solicitors / clients.

Ability to take on board, and react positively to, constructive criticism. In this regard, the candidate should be driven and passionate about developing their skills and delivering a high standard of work.

The ability to engage with confidence with solicitors and clients.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

A Degree in a relevant subject.

Employing Company Overview and Profile

The hiring company is a small but highly reputable disputes consultancy with WWL recommended Delay and Quantum experts in the business, which proudly offers a different working environment to the larger consultancy firms in the market. They are looking to hire an individual who sees the benefits of working for a smaller business and can embrace it.

The client will be flexible on the candidates working arrangements and have a collaborative working environment with a couple of similar sized consultancies in the market, therefore the candidate may have a couple of options in central London on where to work, as well as some home working. However regardless of where you base yourself, regular dialogue, meeting (internal and external) will be required to ensure that you are gaining adequate training and support as well as to ensure the work you are producing is to the required standard.

Benefits

Basic Salary in the region of £50k - £70k p/a dependant on experience.

• Contribution to the candidate’s personal pension plan
• Private health insurance cover
• Mobile phone
• Relevant professional fees paid
• Annual discretionary bonus